As counterintuitive as it sounds, being in a country with a high cost of living forces travelers to seek out the most affordable options.

“In Europe I’d go camping and couchsurfing all the time out of necessity, but here in Asia I’d happily pay for accommodation, because it’s cheaper,” he writes. “But of course that adds up and in the end I pay more.”

Anyone looking to travel on a budget should look for places that have little to no tourism, Schroeder told Business Insider.

“It’s not so much about the destination itself, but that the people living there will perceive you differently,” he explains. “If the locals are used to rich westerners that spend a lot of money, they see you as a business opportunity. But if they barely come in contact with foreigners, then their curiosity wins and you will get a much more personal contact. You will be a guest, not a walking ATM.”

Destinations that he recommends include the Andaman Islands, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Djibouti, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

He told Business Insider that he pays 300 euros (approximately $334 USD) per year for a worldwide plan that allows him to visit a doctor in any country that he’s visiting, just in case something goes wrong.

7. Carry enough cash for a month.

Once you get off the beaten tourist track, you probably won’t be able to use your credit card.

Schroeder makes sure to enough enough cash on hand to cover a month’s worth of expenses — which, on his $15-a-day budget, comes to $450. Although carrying large amounts of cash can be risky, he writes, “The world is far safer than most people assume.”

He told Business Insider that he’s gone through six bikes in the past eight years while traveling and paid 800 euros (~$892 USD) for the first, 100 euros (~$111 USD) for the second, and 400 euros (~$446 USD) for the third.

Since then, he’s attracted sponsors, and got his last three bikes for free.

And since bicycling doesn’t cost anything, he can spend most of his daily budget on food.

Patrick Martin Schroeder

9. The hardest part is leaving your comfort zone.

Once you’re on the road, living without familiar luxuries becomes easy, Schroeder says. But getting out of your routine to start traveling can be a challenge, particularly when it mean giving up creature comforts. “As a huge nerd, the hardest thing to give up was my gaming PC and fast internet connection,” he told Business Insider, adding that he also misses having access to western supermarkets and a refrigerator. He wrote on Reddit that he periodically returns home to Germany, but tries to keep those visits short. “When I start treating luxuries like a kitchen, running hot water, fast internet, etc as standard, THEN I LEAVE.”